When we started looking into going tiny, we knew it would be hard to find a house plan on which we could both agree. So we came up with a list of conditions the house had to meet in order to be considered. Here are some of the requirements on the list.

1. Each child (and adult) would need a designated personal space in the house.2. The house needed to be under 999 HSF total- preferably less.3. Outside living space is a must! (For real, I need somewhere to send the kids.)4. We need more than one toilet- maybe not two full baths, but if someone gets sick, we need an option besides a 5 gallon bucket out back.5. It had to be cute. (I added that to the list.)6. It had to have a pot filler. 7. and a tankless hot water heater. (I might've added those last two as well. Let's face it, we are going tiny- not off the grid. I have luxurious taste.)

In 2008, we decided to build a house. It was going to be our dream house. Matt and I moved so much during the first few years of our marriage. In fact, we owned five houses in our first six years of marriage. So when we decided to build this past time, Matt said that this was it. He told me, "If you decide to move again it will be without me." Famous last words, honey.

Here we are eight years later building again; however, our mindset is quite different this time around. For the last couple of weeks, we have been working on getting our plans drawn up and let me tell you- it has not been as fun as I wanted it to be. We have spent hours agonizing over where we can remove square feet to make the house smaller. It is such a strange feeling. I am hoping soon I can post the plans for you to see. Until then, I thought you might want to take a tour of our dream house- the one we just left.

If this is your first post to read, you should really press rewind. ​So late on a Monday night, Lee decided to buy our house. Then she scheduled the inspection for the next day! And then at some point we took this pic and I regretted not leaving my hair fixed for ten minutes longer.

Since Lee decided to buy the house and since I had a trip planned that weekend to go to NYC, I had a lot to do in a short amount of time. I only had three days to make it all happen. Could I get it all together before I left? Of course I could!!!

Tuesday after work I picked up the kids, met the inspector and Lee at the house, and waited for Matt to get home. We had a plan. I always have a plan- unless I am at the beach, but that is another story for another day. The plan was to let the inspector finish at the big house, go meet Mr. B at the lot and tell him we wanted to purchase it, somehow find a rent house, and then touch base with Lee and get paperwork signed. All this had to be done before 5:45. I mean- I had to get Carys to dance on time.

Matt walked in the door about 4:30 and we drove to the lot once the inspector had finished. On the way, Matt mentioned he had found a rent house right down the street that might work so he called about it. While talking to Mr. B (he is quite the talker), the lady called back about the rent house. After listening to the lady talk for a minute, I heard Matt say, "Mrs. Lily?" After he hung up, I looked at him and said, "Mrs. Lily owns the rent house?" You see, Mrs. Lily is our neighbor. She also sold us the lot that we built our big house on eight years ago. Mrs. Lily is a real estate agent. And a landlord- who knew!!!

I know, I know. Cut a girl some slack. You've been too busy watching election results to catch an update anyway. Now where were we? Catch up here if you are late to the party!

It was Monday night and I had just finished working my shift for the school fundraiser at the local pizza joint. Matt brought the kids by so we could have supper together after my shift. As we were leaving, I pulled alongside Matt in the parking lot because I needed to tell him something. Yes I know we had just eaten dinner together, but I always forget to say the most important things until the opportunity is over. I noticed that Matt was on the phone. Why is he always busy when I need him the most?!?! I thought- surely it can't be that important! Who actually calls people at this day in age anyway? So I rolled down the window, waved to get his attention, hung out of the window a little, called his name, and do you know what he did?!?!?!?!? HE WAVED ME OFF!!!!!!!! Oh no he did not. So I said, "UGH, " and sped off with my nose pointed toward the sky.

So there we were- disappointed and confused. (Find out why by reading part one and part two of the story.) We decided that we were supposed to stay in the big house since God had slammed the door on our other opportunities. I text my friend who was interested in buying our house and told her our lot was no longer available so we couldn't sell the house to her. She was disappointed as well- she had to be out of her house in thirty days and needed to find somewhere to move.

The next week was full of sadness. I wasn't really too sad, (My life philosophy is- it is what it is, deal with it and move on.) but Matt was all kinds of upset. I did my best to be supportive. That lasted about 30 minutes.

​Recap: We decided to go tiny. There were no lots. We found a lot that wasn't listed. We sold our house that wasn't listed. We went to make an offer on the lot and voila- just like that you have the cliff notes of the beginning of the story. If you want the full recap, click here.

So, we went to make an offer on the lot, which interestingly enough was only about .2 mile from our big house. Matt was pumped. He was all in. In fact, I hadn't seen him so excited about anything in a long time. On the other hand, I was less optimistic. I knew a lot had to happen for this all to work out. I was excited, but moreso about the queso I had just eaten for lunch.

It all started a few years ago when we decided to go on a trip to Rosemary Beach, FL. It was then that I realized I did not want to live in Louisiana for the rest of my life. New goals were made. We decided we want to retire in Rosemary Beach. That goal would require lots of planning.

In the meantime, a new show came on tv about living tiny. Surprisingly, that show was followed by multiple shows about this new intriguing way of living with less. At first, I scoffed at the idea. I mean...wasn't the goal in life to have a big house and nice cars?!?!?! Oh wait...that is the world's idea of success. But maybe, just maybe, success is more about what you experience than what you have.